Released 1997
Stars David Suchet, Lisa Harrow, Jared Harris, Larry Pine, Joe Grifasi, Arnold Barkus
Directed by Jonathan Nossiter

For the most part, Sunday is a poignant, powerfully-realized character study of two lonely people. Their quiet conversations mark the film's highlights, and Nossiter pays particular attention to little details. In addition, he fashions a gray, grim atmosphere (a cold, wintry New York City) that adds weight to the despair experienced by the characters. Suchet, who is best known for his role as the title character in PBS's Poirot, gained 40 pounds for this part, and plays Oliver with great emotional strength. There are times when we can feel (not just see) his despair. Lisa Harrow, the lead in Gillian Armstrong's "The Last Days of Chez Nous," is every bit Suchet's match.

As wonderfully effective as the quiet scenes are in Sunday, Nossiter takes his share of missteps. The first involves the inclusion of small army of secondary characters -- Madeleine's husband and the group of men who share the shelter with Oliver. Although their purpose -- to strengthen the sense of isolation -- is clear, scenes with these individuals are distracting, taking time away from the interaction between the two leads and interrupting the film's flow. Secondly, there are instances when Nossiter's artsy style (point-of-view camera angles, close-up shots of dead fish, crabs, and lobsters, etc.) approaches pretentiousness. However, the worst these flaws can do is occasionally mute Sunday's power. The best moments of the film shine through, leaving behind unforgettable images and feelings that will not evaporate when the house lights go up.

Summary by James Berardinelli